How to Keep Produce Fresh and Save Money

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Did you know that Americans throw out about 40% of the food they buy? That’s a lot of money down the drain. Making your food last can ensure that you aren’t one of those people who throws that much food (and money) away. Take a look at some pointers from Money Crashers for keeping your produce fresh and lasting:

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Lettuce: try buying whole heads of lettuce (instead of bagged lettuce) and take off what you want as you need it. Wrap the rest in paper towels and place it loosely in a plastic grocery bag. The lettuce should last for up to two weeks when stored this way.

Tomatoes and Other Soft Fruits: tomatoes will keep longer in the fridge, but they will start to lose their taste. To keep their taste, keep them on something soft (like a towel in a bowl) on the counter to prevent them from getting squishy spots. Make sure to keep them out of direct sunlight as well. The same goes for other soft fruits; they should also be stored on the counter and not refrigerated in order to preserve the taste.

Bananas: since bananas produce ethylene (which causes other fruits to prematurely ripen and go bad) as they ripen, it is best to keep bananas separate from other fruits. If you have the ability to use a hanger to suspend them, you’ll be able to prevent them from bruising so much. To keep ripe bananas fresh for a longer period of time, store them in the refrigerator.